Free handle door latching mechanism



Nov. 3, 1959 A. F. BAKER FREE HANDLE DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1958 /3\-, j: INVENTOR.

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Nov. 3, 1959 A. F IIBAKER 2,911,248

FREE HANDLE DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM I Filed Jan. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. 5 72612 izazer'.

BY Z/W w Jim #7- arr/urns Nov. 3, 1959 A. F. BAKER 2,911,248

FREE HANDLE DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM In INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 2,911,248 FREE HANDLE DOOR LATCHING lVIECHANISM Albert F. Baker, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Hancock Industries, Inc., Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January s, 1958, Serial No. 707,711

7 Claims. (Cl. 292280) This invention relates to door latching mechanisms, and more particularly to devices for permitting the door handles of automative vehicles to reciprocate freely when the latches are in locked position.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved free handle door latching mechanism which is of rela tively simple and foolproof construction and which, when in effective position, permits free movement of the door handle with relatively few moving parts which may get out of order.

It is another object to provide an improved free handle door latching mechanism of theabove character which is adaptable for use in combination with restoring means for moving the latch to unlocked position when the door is slammed or opened from the inside, and which cannot be inadvertently locked when the key is still in the car.

It is a further object to provide an improved free handle door latching mechanism of the above character which is specially adapted for use with push button handles of the type now in widespread use on motor vehicles, and which provides a compact construction easily incorporated in the door body.

It is also an object to provide an improved free handle doorlatching mechanism of this nature which will operate efliciently under dilferent conditions and in which the danger of. damage to the lock by inadvertent door handle movement will be avoided.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the base portion of the mounting plate of a front door latch incorporating the principles of the present invention, the parts being shown in unlocked position;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view in elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the flange portion of the mounting plate and its associated mechanism;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but with the parts in their locked position;

Figure 4 is a side-elevational view similar to Figure 1 of another embodiment of the invention adapted for use with the rear door of an automotive vehicle;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and showing the flange portion of the mounting plate; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in locked position. I y

In general terms, the invention as illustrated comprises a latching mechanism having an angularly shaped mounting plate with base and flange portions, and a rotary toothed bolt mounted on the base with detent means pivoted on the base and engageable with the rotor. The detent means is movable to unlatching position by means of a slidable outside rollback mounted at the upper portion of the base for movement toward and away from the ice flange, this rollback being operable by outside handle means such as a push button. A coupling member is slidably and pivotally mounted on the base and is swingable between locking and unlocking positions. When in its unlocking position, the coupling member is engageable by the slidable rollback and engages the upper end of the detent means to swing the detent means into unlatching position. Means are provided on the flange for swinging the coupling member to its locking position, in which position the coupling member is out of the effective path of the outside rollback while still engageable with the detent means. Reciprocation of the outside rollback will thus have no effect since no other parts will be moved. This latch construction maybe combined with restoring means operable when the dooris slammed or the inside rollback operated to swing the coupling member back to its unlocking position.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, Figures 1-3 show a suitable embodiment of the invention for the front door of an automotive vehicle. The latching mechanism is generally indicated at 11 and has a mounting plate generally indicated at 12 of angular construction, the mounting plate comprising a base 13 and a flange 14 extending approximately at right angles thereto. Base 13 has an apertured portion 15 as seen in Figure 2, and a bolt supporting member 16 is secured to the inside surface of base 13 and extends through aperture 15. Member 16 is of dished shape as seen in Figure 2, and a bolt pivot 17 is secured at one end to member 16 and is supported at its other end by a deck plate shown in dot-dash lines at 18 in Figure 1, this deck plate being parallel to and spaced inwardly from base 13 and secured thereto at spaced points along its edge. A multitoothed rotary bolt 19 is rotatably mounted on pivot 17, the teeth of this bolt being disposed in the space between the outer portion of member 16 and base 13. Integrally formed with bolt 19 are a plurality of detent-engaging teeth 21 corresponding in number to the bolt teeth, as seen in Figure l. The keeper shown schematically in dot-dash lines at 22 in Figure 2 is adapted to be received in the upper portion of the space between member 16 and a reinforcing plate 23 which is secured to the inner surface of base 13 and partially covers aperture 15. In this manner, keeper 22 will be latched in position between the upper wall 24 of member 16 and bolt 19, separation of the keeper and bolt in a horizontal direction, as seen in Figure 2, being prevented by the retention of the keeper between the outer wall of member 16 and rein forcing plate 23.

A plurality of detents or dogging earns 25, 26 and 27 of varying height are pivotally mounted at 28 on base 13,. as seen in Figure 1, and serve to engage teeth 21 to prevent unlatching rotation of the bolt and take up looseness between the bolt and keeper. The cams are engageable by springs 29, one of which is shown in Figure 1, these springs being fixed at one end 31 to base 13 and engageable with the cams at their outer ends 32 to urge the cams into latching position. Cam 25 may be termed the lifting cam and has an upwardly extending arm 33 for unlatching purposes, clockwise swinging of cam 25 causing the other cams to be retracted due to the presence of a tab 34 on this cam which engages cams 26 and 27 as seen in Figure 1. -Lifting cam 25 likewise has an arm 35 extending toward flange 14 of the mounting plate for.

engagement by the inside rollback as will be presently described.

Means are provided for moving the dogging cams to their unlatching positions from either the outside or inside of the door. In the. illustrated embodiment, an outside rollback 36 is mounted on base 13 of the mounting plate for slidable movement toward and away from flange 14. Rollback 36 is of generally elongated shape and has a flange 37 at its outer end adapted to be engaged by a push button indicated partially in dot-dash lines at 38 or other member which is accessible, either directly or indirectly, from the outside of the door. The intermediate portion of rollback 36 is slotted to receive a stud 39 secured to the upper portion of base 13, and a spring 40 is secured to base 13 and engages rollback 36 to urge the rollback away from flange 14. The inner end 41 of the rollback is disposed within a C-shaped guide portion 42 formed at the upper end of reinforcing plate 23, as best seen in Figure 2.

A flange 43 is formed on an intermediate portion of rollback 36, this flange being engaged by spring 40. A portion-of flange 43 is adapted to engage a nose 44 on a coupling member 45 which serves to connect rollback 36 to the upper arm 33 of lifting cam 25. Coupling'member 45'has a slot 46 through which stud 39 passes, and'the inner end 48 of coupling member 45 extends past guide 42, the underside of portion 48 being engageable by a shoulder 49 which is formed on a locking slide 51 carried by flange 14. More specifically, slide 51 is vertically movable on the flangebetween an upper or locking position and a lower or unlocking position, the latter position being best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings while the locking position is seen in Figure 3. Slide 51 may be movable between its positions by an inside rollback as described below and by a conventional key station (not shown) accessible from the outside of the door and connected to flange 14 at 52, as shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, slide 51 may be actuated by a rod shown partially in dot-dash lines at 53 which is connected to a garnish mold button (not shown) on the automobile door. An overcenter spring 54 is connected between slide 51 and flange 14 to hold the slide in either of its positions.

An inside rollback 55 is pivotally mounted at 56 on flange 14 and is adapted to engage arm 35 of lifting cam 25 when the inside rollback is swung counterclockwise as seen in Figure 2, to withdraw the cams from their latching position. A shoulder 57 is formed on slide 51 above arm-58-of inside rollback 55 which engages lifting cam arm 35. The position of shoulder 57 with respect to arm 58 is such that when inside rollback 55 is rocked clockwise in Figure 2, slide 51 will be lifted into its locking position. During such movement, end 48 of coupling member 45 will be moved upwardly by tab 49 of the slide to the position shown in Figure 3'. A slot 59 is provided at the lower end of the slide, this slot being guided by a portion 61 of deck plate 13 as seen in Figure 2 to assure vertical movement of the slide.

An intermediate portion of coupling member 45 has a shoulder 62 engageable with the upper end of lifting cam arm 33. The relative dimensions of shoulder 62 and the cam arm end are such that the shoulder will be in opposing relation with the arm even when coupling member 45 is in its locking position, as shown in Figure 3. However, nose 44 on the coupling member will drop below the path of flange 43 on rollback 36 when coupling member 45 is moved to its locking position. A spring 63 is mounted on stud 39 and has one end 64 held by a tab 65 on base 13, the other end 66 of the spring being engageable with the upper edge of coupling member extension 48. The effect of spring 63 will be to resiliently hold extension 48 against shoulder 49 so that when slide 51 is moved downwardly, coupling member 45 will swing clockwise from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1, thus being restored to unlocking position.

Means are provided for restoring the latching mechanism to unlocked position should the door be slammed or opened from the inside while coupling member 45 is in its locking position. This means includes a shoulder 67 on slide 51 and disposed below arm 35 of lifting cam 25. When shoulder 67 is in its lower position, as shown in Figure 2, it will be clear of the path of arm 35 as the cams swing momentarily to their unlatching position when the door is slammed. However, when locking slide 51 is raised to its locking position, shoulder 67 thereof will be disposed immediately below arm 35, so that when lifting cam 25 is swung clockwise in Figure 1 or 3, either by movement of inside rollback 55 or by slamming of the door, arm 35 will engage shoulder 67 to move slide 51 to its lower or unlocking position.

In operation of the embodiments shown in Figures 1-3, assuming an initial condition in which the door is closed, the parts are in unlocked position, and the operator desires to exit from the car, close and lock the door, the parts will initially be in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The operator will swing inside rollback 55 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2', utilizing for this purpose the inside door handle (not shown) which is connected'to the inside rollback by a link shown partially in dot-dash lines at 68. Arm 58 of inside rollback 55 will engage arm 35 of lifting cam 25, and the camswill be swung to their unlatched position, permitting the door to be opened-with bolt 19 and ratchet 21 rotating clockwise in Figure 1 as the bolt rides over stationary keeper 22. Upon release of the inside handle, springs 29 will urge the cams to their latching position and return inside rollback 55 to the position shown in Figure 2. The operator will then slam the door, ratchet teeth 21 riding under the cams as they momentarily move to unlatching position. Next, the operator may insert a key in the key station and move locking slide 51 to its upper or locking position.

.When this is done, shoulder 49 of the locking slide will move extension '48 of the coupling member upwardly, and the coupling member will swing about pivot stud 39 until nose 44 of the coupling member is below and out of the path of movement of flange 43 on outside rollback 36. Thereafter, the outside rollback may be reciprocated without eflYect, since no connection exists between the outside rollback and the cams. Due to the fact that shoulder 62 is disposed at all times in opposing relation with the upper end of lifting cam arm 33, the swinging action of coupling member 45 will be positive in nature, with the right-hand end of slot 46 remaining adjacent stud 39. It should also be observed that out side locking must be accomplished by the key, thus insuring that the key will be removed from the vehicle.

Should the operator inadvertently move the coupling member to locking position before the door is closed, and then close the door while outside rollback 36 is in its right-hand position, as shown in Figure 3, due to depression of push button 38, flange 43 will be above the left-hand end of coupling member 45 and will temporarily prevent the coupling member from being swung back to unlocking position by spring 63 and the restoring means described above. When push button 38 is released spring 40 will retract rollback 36, at which time spring 63 will swing coupling member 45 into unlocking position. It should be noted that this. arrangement will prevent damage to any of the parts should this inadvertent type of operation occur.

Assuming that the operator has locked the car in the normal manner and desires to re-enter the car, he will operate the key station to move locking slide 51 downwardly to its unlocking position. Spring 63 will cause coupling member 45 to swing clockwise from theposition shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure l. The operator may then move outside rollback 36 to the right in Figure 1, causing coupling member 45 to rock lifting cam 25 clockwise and permitting the door to' be opened. After getting into the car, the operator may slam the door and, if he wishes to lock himself inside the car, swing inside, rollback 55 clockwise in Figure 2 by means of link 68. i This will cause arm 58 ,of rollback 55 to engage shoulder 57 of slide 51, lifting coupling member extension 48 and swinging the coupling member; to its locking position, as shown in Figure 3. Upon exiting from thecar, swinging of inside rollback55: in

a counterclockwise direction with the parts in their locked position will result in lifting cam arm 35 engaging locking slide shoulder 67 to permit the parts to move to their unlocked position.

Figures 4, and 6 show another embodiment of the invention which is generally similar in principle to the previous modification but which is specially adapted for rear doors where it is desired to lock both inside and outsidedoor handles without restoring means being provided when the door is slammed. The lock is generally indicated at 71 and has a mounting plate generally indicated at 72 with a base 73 and a flange 74 extending angularly therefrom. As in the previous embodiment, a multi-toothed rotary bolt 75 is mounted on a pivot 76, with ratchet teeth 77 formed integrally with the bolt and engageable by a lifting cam 78 and additional cams 79 and 81 mounted on a pivot'82 carried by base 73. An outside rollback 83 is slidably mounted on a stud 84 carried by base 73 and is guided for horizontal movement to and from flange 74 by' guide means similar to that described with respect to the previous embodiment, a spring 85 being providcd for urging the rollback to its retracted position. A coupling member 86 similar to that previously described is slidably and swingably mounted on stud 84 and is movable between an unlocking position shown in Figure 4 and a locking position shown in Figure 6. A spring 87 is provided for urging coupling member 86 into its unlocking position.

An inside rollback 88 is pivotally mounted at 89 on flange 74 and has an arm 90 engageable with arm 91 of lifting cam 78 when rollback is swung counterclockwise in Figure 5. A locking member 92 is pivoted at 93 on flange 74 above rollback 88 and is adapted to lock both inside and outside rollbacks simultaneously. For this purpose, member 92 has a shoulder 94 extending under the extended portion of coupling member 86, as

seen in Figure 5, so that when member 92 is swung clockwise in this figure, it will cause swinging'of the coupling member to its locking position. Locking member 92 is'also provided with a laterally extending flange 95, one edge of which is adapted to be placed in opposing relation with a radial shoulder 96 formed on inside rollback 88 when member 92 is swung clockwise in Figure 5. It will be'noted from this figure that positioning of flange 95 in path of shoulder 96 will prevent unlatching movement-of inside rollback 88. An actuating rod 97 may be connected to locking member 92 for operation from the garnish molding on the inside of the door.

The operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 4-6 is similar to that described with respect to the previous embodiment. More particularly, an operator desiring to leave the rear compartment of thevehicle may swing inside rollback 88 counterclockwise to swing the dogging cams to T unlatching position, release of the inside rollback causing the cams: to return to latching position This will cause coupling member" 86 to rock counter clockwise from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 6, bringing nose 98 of the coupling member out of the path of movement of flange 99 on outside rollback 83. At the same time, locking flange 95' will be moved into obstructing relation with inside rollback shoulder 96, preventing the door from being opened from the inside. To unlock the door, locking member 92 is swung counterclockwise, permitting spring 87 to move coupling member 86 to unlocking position and withdrawing flange 95 from shoulder 96.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variationand change'without departing irom the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door latching mechanism, an angular mounting plate having a base and a flange, a multi-toothed rotary bolt on said base, a detent pivoted on said base and engageable with said bolt, said detent being movable between latching and unlatching positions, an arm on said detent, a stud on said base, an outside rollback slidably mounted on said stud for movement between a retracted position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a coupling member pivotally and slidably mounted on said stud,,a shoulder on said coupling member in opposed relation with said detent arm when the coupling member is in either ofits positions, a second shoulder on said coupling member disposed in the path of a portion of said outside rollback when the coupling member is in its unlocking position and out of said path when the coupling member is in said locking position, means on said flange for swinging said couplingmember from its unlocking to its locking position, a spring urging said coupling member to its unlocking position, and a second spring urging said outside rollback to its retracted position.

2. In a door latching mechanism, an angular mounting plate having a base and a flange, a multi-toothed rotary bolt mounted on said base, a detent pivotally mounted on said base above said bolt and engageable with the bolt, said detent being movable between a latching and an un latching position, an outside rollback slidably mounted on said base above said detent pivot and movable between a retracted position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a coupling member having a'slotted portion, a stud on said base extending through said slotted portion to support the coupling member for sliding movement and for pivotal movement between locking and unlocking positions, a shoulder at one end of said slotted portion, anarm extending upwardly from said detent, said shoulderbeing in opposed relation with said arm when the coupling member is in either of its positions, a second shoulder at the other end of said slotted portion and in the path of a portion of said rollback when the coupling member is in its unlocking position, said second shoulder being out of said path whenv the coupling member is in its locking position, an extension on said coup-ling member extending from said slotted portion past said detent arm toward said flange, a looking member mounted on said flange and engageable with the underside of said extension to swing said coupling member to its locking position,.and resilient means engageable with the upper edge of said extension and urging the coupling member toward its unlocking position.

3. In a door latching mechanism, an angular mounting plate having a base and 'a flange, a rotary multi-toothed bolt on said base, a detentpivoted on said base and engageable with said bolt, said detent being movable between latching and unlatching positions, an outside rollback having a portion movable between a retracting position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a coupling member pivotally and slidably mounted on said base, said coupling member being swingable between locking and unlocking positions, an arm on said detent, a shoulder on said coupling member in opposed relation with said armrwhen the coupling member is in either of its positions, a second shoulder on said coupling member in the path of said portion of the outside rollback when the coupling member is in its unlocking position and out of said path when the coupling member is in its locking position, a locking slide mounted on said I member from itsunlocking to its locking position, a spring urging said coupling member toward its-unlocking position, and a second shoulder on said locking slide engageable by a portion of said detent when said locking slide is-in its 'lockingposition and said detent is'moved from its latching to its unlatching positions, whereby said detent will restore said locking slide to said unlocking position.

-4. In a-door latching mechanism',.an angular mounting plate havinga base and a flange, a.rotary mu'lti-toothed bolt on said base, a detent pivoted onsaid base and engageable with said bolt, said detent being movable between a latchingand an unlatching position, a first arm on said detent, an outside rollback having a portion movable between a retracted position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a coupling member between said arm and said outside rollback, said coupling member being slidably and pivotally mounted on said base and swingable between locking and unlocking positions, a shoulder on said coupling member in opposed relation with said first first arm when the coupling member is in either its unlocking r locking positions, a second shoulder on said coupling member in the path of said portion of the outside rollback when the coupling member is in its unlocking position and out of said path when the coupling member is in its locking position, a second arm on said detent extending toward said flange, an inside rollback pivoted on said flange and engageable with said second arm to swing said detent to its unlatching position, a looking member pivoted on said flange and movable between locking and unlocking positions, a first shoulder on said locking member engageable with a portion of said coupling member to" move the coupling member from its unlocking to its locking position when the locking member is moved to its locking position, and a second shoulder on said locking member movable into obstructing relation with a portion of said inside rollback when said locking member is moved to its locking position, whereby effective movement of both said inside and outside rollbacks will be prevented.

5. In a door latching mechanism, a mounting plate, a multi-toothed rotary bolt mounted on said plate, a detent pivoted on'said. plateand engageable with said bolt to prevent unlatching movement thereof, said detent being movable between alatching position and an unlatching position, resilient means urging said detent to its latching position, an arm on said detent, an outside rollback slidably mounted on said plate and having a portion movable between a retracted position away from said detent arm and an unlatching position toward said arm, a unitary coupling member slidably and pivotally mounted on said plate and swingable between a locking position and an unlocking position, a first shoulder on said coupling member in opposed relation with said arm when said coupling member is in either of its positions, a second shoulder on said coupling member in the path of said portion of the outside rollback when said coupling member is in its unlocking position andout of said path when said coupling member is in its locking position, a locking member mounted on said mounting plate and movable between locking and unlocking positions, a one-way connection between said locking member and said coupling member for moving said coupling member to its locking position when said locking member is moved to its locking position, said locking member being movable from its locking to its unlocking position independently of said coupling member, an arm on said detent engageable with said locking member to move the locking member from its locking. to itsunlocking position when said detentmoves fromits latching to itsunlatching position, an overcenter spring holding said locking member. in either its locking or unlocking positions, and a second spring urging: said. coupling member to its unlocking position.

6. In a door latching mechanism, anangular mounting plate having a base and a flange,f amulti-toothed. rotary bolt mounted. on said base, a detent pivotally mounted on said base and engageable with said bolt,.said. detent being movable between latching and unlatching. positions,

an arm extending from said detent,an outside rollback.

slidably mounted on said base and movable between a retramed position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a unitary coupling member pivotally and slidably mounted on said base, ashoulder on said coupling member engageable with said arm when the coupling member is in either of its positions, a second shoulder on said coupling member in the path of a portion of said' outside rollback when the. coupling member is in its unlocking position and out of said path when the coupling member is in its locking position, a locking member on said flange and movable betweenlocking and unlocking positions, a one-way connection between said lockingmember. and said couplingmemberfor moving the coupling member to its locking position when the locking member moves to its locking position, the locking member being movable from its locking to its unlocking position independently of said coupling member, a second arm on said detent: engageable with said locking member to move the locking member to its unlocking position when the detent moves from its latching to its unlatching position, an overcenter spring for holding said locking member in either of its positions, and a second spring urging said coupling member to its unlocking position. 1

7. In a door latching mechanism, an angular mounting plate having a base and a flange, a rotary multi-toothed bolt on said base, a detent pivoted on said base and en.- gageable with said bolt, said detent being movable between latching and unlatching positions, an arm on said detent, an outside rollback movable between a retracted position away from said flange and an unlatching position toward said flange, a unitary coupling member slidably and pivotally mounted on said base, a first portion on said coupling member in opposed relation with said arm when the coupling member is in its unlocking position, a shoulder on said coupling member in the path of a portion of said outsiderollback when the coupling member isin its unlocking position and out of said path when the coupling member is in its locking position, a locking member on said flange movable between locking and unlocking positions, a one-way connection between said locking and coupling members whereby said locking member may move said coupling member to its locking position when the locking member moves to its locking position, the locking member being freely movable-to its unlocking position independently of the coupling member, an overcenter spring for holding the lockingniember in either of its positions, a second spring urgingzsaid coupling member to its unlockingposition, and restoring 2,796,275 Roethel June 18, 1957 Craig Dec. 11, 1956- 

